Motorcycle accessories
Encyclopedia
Motorcycle accessories are features and accessories selected by a motorcycle
owner to enhance safety, performance, or comfort, and may include anything from mobile electronics to sidecar
s and trailers
. An accessory may be added at the factory by the original equipment manufacturer
or purchased and installed by the owner post-sale as after-market goods.
The most prominent of the plastic
or fibreglass shells covering parts of the motorcycle is the "fairing
". In practice, this may blend almost seamlessly with engine panels or wheel covers/mudguards (which in some cases will be painted or plated metal). These systems act to protect the rider from some or all of the weather, may improve aerodynamics (reducing drag), and are an important styling element.
Modern fairings, mostly designed specifically for each motorcycle and fitted as original equipment by the manufacturer, have eliminated the aerodynamic and structural failings of early add-on fairings. Both sports and tourer versions improve (sometimes very considerably) the rider's comfort in cold and wet weather and even "bikini" versions protect the vulnerable crotch region from water ingress.
Also called windshield
s or screens, windscreens can be built into a fairing or be attached to an otherwise unfaired bike. They are usually made from transparent high-impact acrylic plastic
. They may be shaped specifically to direct air flow over or around the head of the rider even if they are much shorter than the seated rider. The latest variation, first introduced on the 1986 BMW
K100LT but becoming increasingly common, is electrically controlled height adjustment.
Some touring motorcycle
s, such as the Honda Gold Wing, have louvred vents in the fairing
which redirect warm air from around the engine or exhaust toward the rider. These motorcycles may also feature vents for cooling the rider.
turns a motorcycle into a three-wheeled vehicle. Their peak popularity (160,000 in the UK in 1955, pre-World War II
in the US) came about when powerful motorcycles were available, but there were relatively few cars about. Sidecars such as the British Watsonian
were coach-built in wood and had doors, sliding windows and even a sun-roof, but modern sidecars may be fibreglass or aluminium. Alignment of the sidecar is critical and the mountings come under considerable stress, making a quickly-detachable version largely impractical - in any case, the special sidecar tyres are poorly-suited to solo riding.
The cornering of "an outfit" is partly controlled by the throttle and this makes for interesting effects - a sidecar wheel brake fitted (usually a pedal side-by-side with the motorcycle rear brake) helps considerably. Sidecars place a heavy strain on wheel bearings, wheel-spokes and suspension components - even frames and engines may suffer. A hinged sidecar known as the "Sidewinder" became available in the UK in the 1970s, but its popularity came about due to driver licensing requirements, its carrying capacity being approximately limited to one tool-box.
A trailer hitch or tow hitch
is a device mounted on a motorcycle that enables it to tow a motorcycle trailer
. Legislation often restricts them to carrying baggage and not passengers.
s fitted as standard or available as options. They normally come in pairs but may be used individually.
Panniers mount on either side of the rear of the motorcycle roughly underneath (but not interfering with) the seating position of the pillion passenger. "Hard" panniers commonly come in an injection molded plastic such as ABS, and "soft" panniers come in some form of textile (e.g. Cordura) or leather. Panniers are nearly always detachable and often lockable, both of their mountings and their closure. Suitcase-like panniers, side-loading, are ideal for carrying clothing into hotel rooms while top-loading hard panniers are more suitable for shopping trips.
Utility top-loading soft panniers may come in a "throw-over" form without mountings. They can be firmly located by the yoke portion under the rider or pillion or may simply be loose. Despite being quickly detachable, they are not very convenient for carrying around. Increasingly, the bag portion is attached to the yoke with zips, making their use as luggage more convenient.
A trunk or top-box is a storage compartment fitted behind the seat
, often complimenting panniers or saddlebags. Original equipment versions may be removable or an integral part of the bike e.g. as fitted to the Honda Goldwing
or BMW
K1200LT, and may be fitted with the motorcycle rear lights, and a backrest for a passenger. The top box may also be an after-market fitment.
Trunk may also refer to the under-seat storage space built into a motorcycle or scooter
.
and internal components in the event of a crash, or preventing damage from dumping (dropping) the bike. They are made of plastics such as Delrin, acetal
, or nylon, or sometimes aluminum. The frame sliders are usually located and installed on the engine
bolts on the left and right side fairings.
Along the same lines, sliders are sometimes added to motorcycle bar ends, and to front or rear axles, called fork sliders and swingarm spool sliders. These provide some potential damage reduction for the suspension components, wheels, and other parts by making contact with the ground before the rest of the bike. Hard-mounted foot pegs, which do not fold upward as normal original equipment foot pegs do, can also serve as a buffer between the ground and the bike's frame and components but risk causing a spill if grounded unexpectedly.
A common arrangement of crash bar is a loop of chrome-plated steel tube mounted each side of a motorcycle's lower frame. As well as their protective function, they are valuable as a mount point for accessories like highway pegs, lights and, on police motorcycle
s, sirens, cameras and radar gun
s. One variation is the sump-guard, primarily for off-road riding.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
owner to enhance safety, performance, or comfort, and may include anything from mobile electronics to sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
s and trailers
Motorcycle trailer
Motorcycle trailer is a term used to describe a trailer used either to carry motorcycles or to be pulled behind a motorcycle in order to carry additional gear.-For carrying motorcycles:...
. An accessory may be added at the factory by the original equipment manufacturer
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
or purchased and installed by the owner post-sale as after-market goods.
Fairing
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
or fibreglass shells covering parts of the motorcycle is the "fairing
Motorcycle fairing
A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of some motorcycles, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, with the primary purpose to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine...
". In practice, this may blend almost seamlessly with engine panels or wheel covers/mudguards (which in some cases will be painted or plated metal). These systems act to protect the rider from some or all of the weather, may improve aerodynamics (reducing drag), and are an important styling element.
Modern fairings, mostly designed specifically for each motorcycle and fitted as original equipment by the manufacturer, have eliminated the aerodynamic and structural failings of early add-on fairings. Both sports and tourer versions improve (sometimes very considerably) the rider's comfort in cold and wet weather and even "bikini" versions protect the vulnerable crotch region from water ingress.
Windscreen
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
s or screens, windscreens can be built into a fairing or be attached to an otherwise unfaired bike. They are usually made from transparent high-impact acrylic plastic
Acrylic glass
Poly is a transparent thermoplastic, often used as a light or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is sometimes called acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
. They may be shaped specifically to direct air flow over or around the head of the rider even if they are much shorter than the seated rider. The latest variation, first introduced on the 1986 BMW
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of the German company BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. The current General Director of the unit is Hendrik von Kuenheim....
K100LT but becoming increasingly common, is electrically controlled height adjustment.
Heating
Since motorcycles lack climate control or proper protection from the wind, some manufacturers offer heated seats or hand grips to relieve the discomfort of low temperatures experienced during night riding or the colder months. They can also be added on as after-market accessories and are powered by the bike's electrical system.Some touring motorcycle
Touring motorcycle
A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although any motorcycle can be used to tour with, manufacturers have brought specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders...
s, such as the Honda Gold Wing, have louvred vents in the fairing
Motorcycle fairing
A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of some motorcycles, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, with the primary purpose to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine...
which redirect warm air from around the engine or exhaust toward the rider. These motorcycles may also feature vents for cooling the rider.
Sidecar
A sidecarSidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
turns a motorcycle into a three-wheeled vehicle. Their peak popularity (160,000 in the UK in 1955, pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the US) came about when powerful motorcycles were available, but there were relatively few cars about. Sidecars such as the British Watsonian
Watsonian Squire
Watsonian Squire is a British manufacturer of sidecars and trailers for attachment to motorcycles. The company was established in 1912 by Thomas Fredrick Watson as the Patent Collapsible Sidecar Company Ltd. at Balsall Heath, Birmingham, England. The company is also the United Kingdom distributor...
were coach-built in wood and had doors, sliding windows and even a sun-roof, but modern sidecars may be fibreglass or aluminium. Alignment of the sidecar is critical and the mountings come under considerable stress, making a quickly-detachable version largely impractical - in any case, the special sidecar tyres are poorly-suited to solo riding.
The cornering of "an outfit" is partly controlled by the throttle and this makes for interesting effects - a sidecar wheel brake fitted (usually a pedal side-by-side with the motorcycle rear brake) helps considerably. Sidecars place a heavy strain on wheel bearings, wheel-spokes and suspension components - even frames and engines may suffer. A hinged sidecar known as the "Sidewinder" became available in the UK in the 1970s, but its popularity came about due to driver licensing requirements, its carrying capacity being approximately limited to one tool-box.
Trailer and tow hitch
Tow hitch
A tow hitch is a device attached to the chassis of a vehicle for towing or a towbar to an aircraft nose gear, or paired main gears....
is a device mounted on a motorcycle that enables it to tow a motorcycle trailer
Motorcycle trailer
Motorcycle trailer is a term used to describe a trailer used either to carry motorcycles or to be pulled behind a motorcycle in order to carry additional gear.-For carrying motorcycles:...
. Legislation often restricts them to carrying baggage and not passengers.
Storage
Various options exist to transport items, other than the riders and passenger, on a motorcycle.Panniers (saddlebags)
Modern touring motorcycles often have panniers or saddlebagSaddlebag
Saddlebags are bags that are attached to saddles.-Horse riding:In horse riding, saddlebags sit in various positions, on the back, side, or front of the saddle. Most attach to the saddle by straps and ties. They can be made from various materials. Although leather was the traditional material, it is...
s fitted as standard or available as options. They normally come in pairs but may be used individually.
Panniers mount on either side of the rear of the motorcycle roughly underneath (but not interfering with) the seating position of the pillion passenger. "Hard" panniers commonly come in an injection molded plastic such as ABS, and "soft" panniers come in some form of textile (e.g. Cordura) or leather. Panniers are nearly always detachable and often lockable, both of their mountings and their closure. Suitcase-like panniers, side-loading, are ideal for carrying clothing into hotel rooms while top-loading hard panniers are more suitable for shopping trips.
Utility top-loading soft panniers may come in a "throw-over" form without mountings. They can be firmly located by the yoke portion under the rider or pillion or may simply be loose. Despite being quickly detachable, they are not very convenient for carrying around. Increasingly, the bag portion is attached to the yoke with zips, making their use as luggage more convenient.
Trunk
Motorcycle saddle
A motorcycle saddle is a term for a motorcycle seat in some parts of the world. It is a seat for carrying a rider and, possibly, a passenger, and which is attached to a motorcycle often but not exclusively, behind the fuel tank....
, often complimenting panniers or saddlebags. Original equipment versions may be removable or an integral part of the bike e.g. as fitted to the Honda Goldwing
Honda Goldwing
The Honda Gold Wing is a touring motorcycle designed and manufactured by Honda. It was introduced October 1974, and went on to become a popular model in North America, Western Europe and Australia. Over the course of its history, it has had numerous modifications to its design. In 1975 it featured...
or BMW
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of the German company BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. The current General Director of the unit is Hendrik von Kuenheim....
K1200LT, and may be fitted with the motorcycle rear lights, and a backrest for a passenger. The top box may also be an after-market fitment.
Trunk may also refer to the under-seat storage space built into a motorcycle or scooter
Scooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
.
Luggage rack
A common addition to many bikes is an attachment onto which bags or other luggage can be fastened. This removes the need for rider backpacks and is generally a more secure and safer way to add carrying capacity to a motorcycle. In the 1950s the popular British motorcycle Triumph often came with a tank-mounted carrier. Load-security was better, but they lost popularity over the unproven, but keenly felt, danger to the rider in the event of a front-end collision.Frame sliders
Frame sliders, also called frame protectors, fairing protectors, or crash bobbins, are an accessory used on street motorcycles for the purpose of maintaining the bike's side fairingsMotorcycle fairing
A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of some motorcycles, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, with the primary purpose to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine...
and internal components in the event of a crash, or preventing damage from dumping (dropping) the bike. They are made of plastics such as Delrin, acetal
Acetal
An acetal is a molecule with two single-bonded oxygen atoms attached to the same carbon atom.Traditional usages distinguish ketals from acetals...
, or nylon, or sometimes aluminum. The frame sliders are usually located and installed on the engine
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle.Motorcycle engines may be two-stroke or four-stroke, reciprocating or Wankel, single-cylinder or multicylinder , or single-rotor or twin-rotor . The engine typically drives the rear wheel, but some small bikes such as the Velosolex have a...
bolts on the left and right side fairings.
Along the same lines, sliders are sometimes added to motorcycle bar ends, and to front or rear axles, called fork sliders and swingarm spool sliders. These provide some potential damage reduction for the suspension components, wheels, and other parts by making contact with the ground before the rest of the bike. Hard-mounted foot pegs, which do not fold upward as normal original equipment foot pegs do, can also serve as a buffer between the ground and the bike's frame and components but risk causing a spill if grounded unexpectedly.
Crash bar
Crash bars aim to protect motorcycle engines and body panels and are believed to protect the rider. They are less popular now than they used to be, vulnerable engines and fairings sometimes being protected by frame sliders instead.A common arrangement of crash bar is a loop of chrome-plated steel tube mounted each side of a motorcycle's lower frame. As well as their protective function, they are valuable as a mount point for accessories like highway pegs, lights and, on police motorcycle
Police motorcycle
A police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police forces and departments. They may be custom designed to meet the requirements unique of a particular use. A police motorcycle is often called a "motor" by police officers in the United States...
s, sirens, cameras and radar gun
Radar gun
A radar speed gun is a small doppler radar unit used to measure the speed of moving objects, including vehicles, pitched baseballs, runners and other moving objects. Radar speed guns may be hand-held, vehicle-mounted or static...
s. One variation is the sump-guard, primarily for off-road riding.